Starbucks, Best Buy, Sears, JC Penney, Chipotle, See’s Candy, El Pollo Loco, T-Mobile, Goodwill and Jiffy Lube were just a few of the companies seeking applicants at the job fair.

Also hiring were the Los Angeles County Office of Education; the Sheriff, Fire and Probation Departments; Metropolitan Transportation Authority; the cities of Carson, Long Beach and Torrance; the California Highway Patrol and the FBI.

In all, 95 employers from both the private and public sector and about 2,500 job seekers were on hand for what has been described as one of the largest job fairs in the region this year.

“I believe this is a great opportunity for job seekers, whether they’re looking for entry-level job positions or to change careers and go into a different field,” said Clara Kim, a supervisor with the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s GAIN Division, a welfare-to-work initiative that provides job readiness and career planning services to help welfare recipients achieve gainful employment and self-sufficiency.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas provided funding and other support for the event, held at the Juanita Millender-McDonald Community Center in Carson.

“The Spring Into Summer Hiring Spree can open doors for those who are ready and willing to do what it takes to succeed,” he said.